Common Goldfish Not well?

[LG85]

I've had my Golfish Jaws since i was 10 years old, Won him in a local fair and over 20 years later he's still going!

Recently though he's been acting very strange, Always lying on the bottom of the tank, and when he does this he's often tilting as well and then all of a sudden will burst into life to the top of the tank to get air, He also has white shadowy spots on his tail and some more bumpy white spots on his gils/fins

I've ordered a new filter and a test kit so will be able to test the water quality but any ideas what's wrong with him or is it just a case of he's had a good innings and he's nearing the end....

[Stephen]

Hello and welcome

How big is Jaws and how big is your tank?

All the best

[LG85]

About 5 or 6" and it's a 42L tank

[fr499y]

Welcome @LG85

Don’t take any replies personally, but goldfish require a much much larger tank. Preferably a pond.

[Stephen]

Don’t take any replies personally, but goldfish require a much much larger tank. Preferably a pond.

I agree.

All the best

[plankton]

Welcome to the forum.
Unfortunately, I agree as well, a common goldfish can reach around 12" long, a fancy 6".
I always recommend a 120l for a fancy with 50l more for each additional goldie. They are messy fish and need good filtration.
20 years is very good considering.
I would do more water changes (using conditioner), but you could give him a salt bath.
Use Marine salt (1 teaspoon per 10l) in another container with tank water and net him out into it. After 10 minutes or so, net him back into the tank that you've topped up with fresh water.
That MAY help to clear up the problem, but it also may not, as I suspect there are internal organ problems as well as what you can see.

[LG85]

Thanks for the replies! Well i'd love to get him a bigger tank but we just don't have the space in the house for one, We'd never ever thought he would last this long never mind grow this big! He was tiny when i first got him and we even had 2 goldfish in the tank,but what do i do? with no space for a new bigger tank it does feel a bit cruel but i'm limited with options

[stechappo]

If you can take a picture of him then that would help ID the illness he has, sounds like maybe ICH which is treatable, once thats done then if he gets well you could consider rehoming, 20 years is an amazing innings for a goldfish, sounds like you have looked after him well, hope you can sort him.

[mattindevon]

Don’t take any replies personally, but goldfish require a much much larger tank. Preferably a pond.

I know the advice always has to be right but it is interesting that fish can and do defy expectations. Twenty years is great going.

[black ghost]

Sounds like a water issue. Test it asap.